534 Assembly Proceedings, October—November 1683.

L. H. Journal
Original.

cannot be made without the Consent of the freemen of this
province by their Deputyes, Delegates or representatives in
Genrall Assemblyes Assembled, And Since hitherto the forme
of Assembling their Deputyes & Delegates hath been altogether
Divers, and vncertaine this house Conceive that noe better

p. 11

meanes Can be vsed In this Province for the Settleing the minds
of the freemen and reduceing a matter of this moment to a Cer-
taynty for the future then to Establish the manner of Electing &
summoning of Burgesses delegates & representatives to serve
in succeeding an Act to be Assented too by his Lordsp
and both houses of Asse their Consent in Assembly
may not be Altered or Re Due hono^r and regard
ought to be had to his ons, yet this house Conceives
this p^rsent Ordina his heires and successors, but
that the man &c therein p^rscribed may be altered
wills and pleasures and thereby the same

Ordinance recyted it is sayd (as to the
shall give Authority to each of them (meaning the
delegates all Indentures &c: which seemes to make the
power to Consent &c: Burgesses &c: Derivative from
the Sherriffe, whereas and Consent in Assembly is
only from the freemen by made by virtue of such his
Lops writt.
in the Ordinance " In case any of the persones soe
Elected province " or be Otherwise Disabled to sitt &
Vote &c vpon Notice from the Commissioners of the place
or the Sherriffe or the Survi elegate, to the Secretary or
Other Officer &c—New writts shall issue for the supply of the
vacancy of such persone, Dead gone Out of the province or
Otherwise Disabled to Sitt or Vote &c
This house Conceives in the first place, that such notice may
be neglected or if given not sufficient to disable such persones
not dead from being and Continueing a member of Assembly,
None being more proper Judges of the Disability of such
member then the house it selfe.
Besides as the Commerce of our province depends much
vpon a dayly Correspondency with our Neighbours of Vir-
ginea, New Yorke, Pensilvania &c: A persone member of this
house may have Occasion to goe about his Necessary Occa-
sions and Affaires In the Intervall of Assemblyes, And be
Absent at the sitting of Assembly, Yet ought not for That
Cause Onely to bee removed from being a member of As-
sembly, Or to sitt and vote there when he Comes In againe.
Therefore this house have prepared a bill for the Electing &
summoning Burgesses &c herewith sent and passed this house
To w^ch they desire the Assenf of his Lordship and vpper house.